Clarence House, Royal residence in Westminster, England
Clarence House is a residence of the royal family in central London, standing directly beside St James's Palace along The Mall. The four-floor building with its pale stucco facade contains several reception rooms on the ground floor and private living quarters on the upper levels.
Architect John Nash designed the house in 1827 for the Duke of Clarence, who later became King William IV. After World War II, the building served as the principal residence of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and subsequently of the Prince of Wales.
Visitors walking through the ground floor rooms notice how portraits, furniture pieces and decorative items from different royal periods sit together in working reception spaces. The arrangement shows how the residence functions as a family home rather than a museum, with personal touches visible throughout the interiors.
The house opens for guided tours during summer, when visitors can walk through the main ground floor reception rooms. Tours last around an hour and advance booking is recommended since places fill quickly.
The original Regency proportions and architectural details remain largely intact, even as modern facilities were added over the decades. An elevator was installed during later renovations without compromising the historic fabric of the building.
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